ATO 2026 census action plan

What we achieved last year

In 2025 the Census action plan for the ATO was developed in context of Our Performance Evolution plan to ensure focus of staff sentiment and organisational efforts. Achievements against the three areas of focus are outlined below.

Workforce capability

• Strengthened people management through the ATO Manager Program, which included delivering training to over 4,000 managers.
• Equipped our workforce for the future through Phase 1 of the AI learning plan, which included over 10,000 staff completing the Fundamentals of AI in Government and over 10,000 completing AI prompt learning.

Future focused workforce

• Launched our Culture Commitments to bring a consistent language to the ATO in delivering our work. This also included a linked upgrade of the everyday recognition Kudos system which now contains culture badges and since 29 June 2026 release, we have had over 4,500 counts including:
  1. Deliver Together: 4,045 recognition badges
  2. Think Bigger: 275 recognition badges
  3. Acting Bolder: 144 recognition badges.
• Launched the ATO Strategy 2030 outlining the five strategic shifts we need to make to shape a simpler, stronger system to deliver on our vision and purpose. Equipping a future-ready workforce is a key strategic shift to succeed in a dynamic environment.
• The ATO People Strategy 2030 is in development to support the ATO Strategy 2030. It will outline the key initiatives that will equip our future workforce This includes emerging core skills, such as adaptability and digital and AI.

Employee technology

• Enhanced employee technology experience through the Modern Workplace Program and reduced technology irritants:
  1. Upgraded 25,000+ laptops to Windows 11
  2. Removed 4,700+ unmanaged mobile devices and assisted 1,500 to enrol to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
  3. Equipped 206 meeting rooms and 58 SES offices for Microsoft Teams and migrated all staff (>25,000) to Teams calls
  4. Migrated to Exchange Online, retiring 5,500+ shared mailboxes and removing over 25,000 inactive mailboxes
  5. Enabled Copilot chat for all staff, deployed 3,000 M365 Copilot licenses and progressed the foundations for further roll out
  6. Expanded Microsoft 365 capabilities introducing Whiteboard, Loop and Clipchamp.

What we want to work on - Action plan

The 2026 ATO Census action plan is complemented by action planning in our teams and business lines. Together, local and enterprise actions make a difference for staff.

The enterprise-level themes and actions are:

Managing and communicating change effectively

What we will do:

• Improve visibility of change so staff better understand what is changing, when it is happening, and why it matters.
• Build change management capability through practical training, new tools and leadership support.
• Communicate organisational changes, workforce moves and acting arrangements as early as practical and consistently.
• Implement a "You Said, We Did" communication approach, to show how staff feedback is informing decisions and improvements.

Building workforce capability and capacity

What we will do:

• Accelerate the use of Copilot and other AI tools to build our workforce capacity.
• Build confidence and capability in AI through practical learning and guidance.
• Identify and remove unnecessary processes and administrative burden through staff-led internal beige tape reduction workshops.

Modernising tools and technology

What we will do:

• Increase investment in resolving technology irritants to improve the day-to-day staff experience while continuing to invest in new and enhanced enterprise systems for the future.
• Help staff get more value from Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft products through targeted training and guidance.

What difference will this make for staff?

Less frustration and fewer barriers

• Staff spend less time navigating unnecessary processes, technology issues and allowing them to focus on meaningful work and delivering outcomes.

Better supported through change

• Staff have earlier visibility of changes, understand why decisions are being made and feel better prepared for their impact.

Better tools, skills and capability

• Staff have access to reliable technology, modern tools and practical learning opportunities that help them work more effectively and confidently.